Story Highlights

NEWARK – Simba Gwashavanhu is a young man quite familiar with different environments and changing locations.

So why should his third position in two years on the University of Delaware bother him?

Gwashavanhu, who'll be a red-shirt sophomore this fall for the Blue Hens, embraces his new spot this spring because he believes it will help Delaware win and ensure he'll play more.

"This is my last one – hopefully," he said after practice in the Field House Tuesday.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Gwashavanhu came to UD as a wide receiver out of Gaithersburg (Md.) High and red-shirted in 2012. After that season, he and the previous coaching staff agreed that, with Delaware's depth at wide receiver but lack of personnel in the secondary, a move to cornerback was warranted.

Coach Dave Brock took the same tack when he took over in January of 2013, and Gwashavanhu played cornerback in spring practice last year.

"We saw a guy with great potential who needed to be on the field," Brock said.

But a torn left Achilles' tendon, suffered in Delaware Stadium during practice last April, ended spring drills early and forced him to miss the 2013 season.

"I was walking to the huddle," Gwashavanhu said, still surprised by the oddity of it. "All I heard was a loud pop and I dropped to the ground. It was a freak accident. I guess I was just meant to get hurt that day."

By that time, Gwashavanhu "had made a very good first impression," Brock said.

Surgery followed, then rehab and, by January, Gwashavanhu was fully engaged in winter conditioning workouts with his teammates.

When Delaware began spring drills last week, he was in another new position – safety.

"He's athletic enough to play either," Brock said of cornerback and safety, while adding the Hens had more of a need at safety. "He's long, explosive. He's a violent kid. I'm really, really excited about him and his potential. He's just got to keep growing and play football."

Special teams are also certain to be on his autumn agenda, too. Gwashavanhu was a first-team All-State pick who played corner, wideout and safety in high school.

Simbarashe – his full first name –was born in the African country of Zimbabwe and then, as a young boy, lived in China for six years. His father, Wilbert, has worked in various diplomatic and government relations roles for Zimbabwe. After returning to Zimbabwe, Gwashavanhu moved to the U.S. when he was in fifth grade.

"I've been around the world," he said with a measure of pride.

At Delaware, helping the defense improve after a 2013 season that saw school records for points and yards allowed would mean the world.

The only thing Gwashavanhu didn't like about playing wide receiver was that he couldn't dish out the hits. Now, as a defensive player, he can, and he relishes the opportunity.

Brock says that Gwashavanhu's offensive experience gives him a little bit of "intel," because he's run routes and caught passes well enough that offensive coaches would "take him back in a second."

But now, he's on defense to stay because of his willingness to strike.

"I love the challenge," Gwashavanhu said. "I'd like to be part of this as we turn it around and have some great games on defense. I think we have a lot of depth in the linebackers and secondary and will be much better."